Methods and systems for dispersing decontamination products

ABSTRACT

An electrostatic spraying system for decontamination of a vehicle is described. The system includes a wheeled platform sized to fit inside the vehicle, at least one tank operable to contain one or more decontaminant agents, the tanks supported by said wheeled platform, a plurality of nozzles affixed to the wheeled platform, wherein each nozzle is positioned for distribution of the decontaminant agents in at least one pre-determined direction, an electrostatic charging system connected to each of the nozzles for applying an electrostatic charge to the decontaminant agents as the agents are dispersed, and at least one compressor in communication with the tanks for pressurizing the decontaminant agents. The one or more compressors are capable of providing a pressure sufficient to provide a constant distribution of the decontaminant agents through the electrostatic nozzles.

BACKGROUND

The field of the disclosure relates generally to decontamination ofenclosed spaces where persons periodically gather, and morespecifically, to methods and systems for dispersing decontaminationproducts such as biological and chemical decontamination products.

Recently, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) pandemic hasrevealed a clear vulnerability regarding global disease transmission,and its effect on the global economy. One industry that was seriouslyaffected is the transportation industry which includes the airlineindustry. Current concerns over the H1N1 virus have reaffirmed theeffect of such pandemics on the global economy as well as the economicsof the airline industry. For example, during the SARS pandemic, airlineslost billions of dollars of revenue due to maintenance and reducedaircraft availability.

The long decontamination processes, currently recommended by the CDCrequires using manual wipe out of the surfaces, which can be easily seenas impacting aircraft operation and could contribute to a loss ofrevenues for airlines. For example, manual disinfecting of an aircraftvehicle is very time consuming. For a typical commercial aircraft thismanual wipe down process can take days or even weeks to complete. As theprocess is performed by airline personnel, there are limitations to this“cloth and bucket” approach. Manual sprayers are known, but again, sucha process can be inadequate and less efficient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, an electrostatic spraying system for decontamination of avehicle is described. The system includes a wheeled platform sized tofit inside the vehicle, at least one tank operable to contain one ormore decontaminant agents, the tanks supported by said wheeled platform,a plurality of nozzles affixed to the wheeled platform, wherein eachnozzle is positioned for distribution of the decontaminant agents in atleast one pre-determined direction, an electrostatic charging systemconnected to each of the nozzles for applying an electrostatic charge tothe decontaminant agents as the agents are dispersed, and at least onecompressor in communication with the tanks for pressurizing thedecontaminant agents. The one or more compressors are capable ofproviding a pressure sufficient to provide a constant distribution ofthe decontaminant agents through the electrostatic nozzles.

In another aspect, a method for dispersing a decontamination agentwithin an aircraft cabin is provided. The method includes manuallydispersing electrostatically charged decontamination agent from a tankpositioned within a rolling cart to one or more defined areas within theaircraft cabin, moving the rolling cart along a defined path within theaircraft, and automatically dispersing the electrostatically chargeddecontamination agent from the tank to additional areas of the cabin viaa plurality of electrostatically charged nozzles attached to the rollingcart, the dispersing occurring, at least in part, as the rolling cartmoves along the defined path within the aircraft.

In still another aspect, an aircraft decontamination system is providedthat includes a wheeled platform sized to fit within a galley cartstorage area of an aircraft, a canister mounted within the wheeledplatform and operable to contain a decontaminant agent, a compressormounted within the wheeled platform and operable to apply a pressure todecontamination agent within the canister, a plurality of nozzlesaffixed to the wheeled platform and fluidly coupled to the canister,each nozzle positioned for distribution of the decontaminant agents inat least one pre-determined direction, an electrostatic charging systemoperatively attached to each of the nozzles for applying anelectrostatic charge to droplets of the decontaminant agent as thedecontamination agent is dispersed from the nozzles, and a manuallyoperated nozzle attached to the canister.

The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can beachieved independently in various embodiments of the present inventionor may be combined in yet other embodiments further details of which canbe seen with reference to the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of an aircraft production and servicemethodology.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an aircraft.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a decontaminationsystem.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cart in which the system of FIG. 3 maybe deployed.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the cart of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the cart of FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a decontaminationsystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As further disclosed by the described embodiments, a self containedsystem is described for air and ground transport vehicle systems, aswell as permanently placed ground structures. The system provides amechanism enabling the interior decontamination of such structuresagainst influenza viruses, bacteria, chemical agents, and biologicalagents, to name a few. Embodiments of the device include a manuallyoperated hand sprayer which is used for localized dispersion, and aplurality of automatically operated spray nozzles, mounted such thatthey will disperse decontaminants via electrostatic spray, for example,to assure complete coverage of the vehicle interior, resulting indecontamination with minimal maintenance. In one preferred embodiment,the use of electrostatic spray results in two micron to forty micronsize droplets, which allows for the use of less decontamination agentthan at least certain current decontamination methods and alsominimizing material damages due to contact with decontaminant agents.

In one embodiment, the disclosed system is an integrated system that canbe housing in a device similar to an existing aircraft service/foodcart, which allows for storage within the aircraft (replacing one of theservice/food carts). In one scenario, such a system would replace one ofthe service/food carts during a pandemic. Such a system would then beperiodically guided down one or more aisles of an aircraft, manually orautomatically, while manually and/or automatically dispersing one ormore decontamination agents. While described in terms of a commercialaircraft implementation, other aircraft (military, private, cargo)applications are also contemplated as well as applications within groundtransport vehicles and buildings. As further described within, thesystem is operable for the optional manual spraying of localized areaswith a variety of chemical and biological decontamination agents, andfurther operable for the automatic spraying of the remaining areas ofthe aircraft, for example, using electrostatic spray nozzles foraircraft interior decontamination using such chemical, biological,and/or other decontamination agents.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, embodiments of thedisclosure may be described in the context of aircraft manufacturing andservice method 100 as shown in FIG. 1 and an aircraft 200 as shown inFIG. 2. During pre-production, aircraft manufacturing and service method100 may include specification and design 102 of aircraft 200 andmaterial procurement 104.

During production, component and subassembly manufacturing 106 andsystem integration 108 of aircraft 200 takes place. Thereafter, aircraft200 may go through certification and delivery 110 in order to be placedin service 112. While in service by a customer, aircraft 200 isscheduled for routine maintenance and service 114 (which may alsoinclude modification, reconfiguration, refurbishment, and so on). Whilethe embodiments described herein relate generally to servicing ofcommercial aircraft, they may be practiced at other stages of theaircraft manufacturing and service method 100. For example, adecontamination process may be implemented at various stages of aircraftproduction as many people have access to an aircraft and its componentsduring a production process.

Each of the processes of aircraft manufacturing and service method 100may be performed or carried out by a system integrator, a third party,and/or an operator (e.g., a customer). For the purposes of thisdescription, a system integrator may include, without limitation, anynumber of aircraft manufacturers and major-system subcontractors; athird party may include, for example, without limitation, any number ofvenders, subcontractors, and suppliers; and an operator may be anairline, leasing company, military entity, service organization, and soon.

As shown in FIG. 2, aircraft 200 produced by aircraft manufacturing andservice method 100 may include airframe 202 with a plurality of systems204 and interior 206. Examples of systems 204 include one or more ofpropulsion system 208, electrical system 210, hydraulic system 212, andenvironmental system 214. Any number of other systems may be included inthis example. Although an aerospace example is shown, the principles ofthe disclosure may be applied to other industries, such as theautomotive industry.

Apparatus and methods embodied herein may be employed during any one ormore of the stages of aircraft manufacturing and service method 100. Forexample, without limitation, components or subassemblies correspondingto component and subassembly manufacturing 106 may be fabricated ormanufactured in a manner similar to components or subassemblies producedwhile aircraft 200 is in service.

Also, one or more apparatus embodiments, method embodiments, or acombination thereof may be utilized during component and subassemblymanufacturing 106 and system integration 108, for example, withoutlimitation, by substantially expediting assembly of or reducing the costof aircraft 200. Similarly, one or more of apparatus embodiments, methodembodiments, or a combination thereof may be utilized while aircraft 200is in service, for example, without limitation, to maintenance andservice 114 may be used during system integration 108 and/or maintenanceand service 114 to determine whether parts may be connected and/or matedto each other.

The description of the different advantageous embodiments has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description, and is notintended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments in the formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art. Further, different advantageousembodiments may provide different advantages as compared to otheradvantageous embodiments. The embodiment or embodiments selected arechosen and described in order to best explain the principles of theembodiments, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinaryskill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodimentswith various modifications as are suited to the particular usecontemplated.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a schematic diagram of a decontamination productdispersion system 300 is depicted in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment. System 300 includes two storage tanks 310 and 312, sometimesreferred to as canisters, though it is easily understood that fewer oradditional storage tanks could be incorporated into the system 300. Theseparate tanks 310 and 312 hold decontamination fluid, for example, ofthe type that cannot be stored together. Alternatively the tanks mayhold the same fluid but be fluidly connected to different nozzles asdescribed below. Each tank is fluidly coupled to a correspondingcompressor 320 and 322 though is would be fairly straightforward todevelop a system similar to system 300 that utilizes only onecompressor.

Air from the respective compressors 320 and 322 passes through acompressed air shut off valve 330, 332, a pressure regulator 340, 342,and is operatively coupled to a pressure relief valve 350, 352 prior toentering the respective fluid storage tank 310, 312. Each of the tanks310, 312 is in fluid communication with a pressure gauge 360, 362.

The embodiment of system 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a pluralityof nozzles 370, 372, 374, 376, and 378. In the embodiment, pressurizedfluid from tank 310 passes through valve 380 (when opened) to nozzles370 and 372. Prior to reaching nozzles 370 and 372, the pressurizedfluid is combined with air pressure from compressor 320, which passesthrough valve 390 (when opened). Similarly, pressurized fluid from tank312 passes through valve 382 (when opened) to nozzles 374 and 376. Priorto reaching nozzles 374 and 376, the pressurized fluid is combined withair pressure from compressor 322, which passes through valve 392. In theillustrated embodiment, nozzle 376 is a hand nozzle and is operatedseparately from nozzles 370, 372, 374, and 376. In the embodiment,pressurized fluid from tank 312 passes through valve 384 (when opened)to nozzle 378. Prior to reaching nozzle 378, the pressurized fluid iscombined with air pressure from compressor 322, which passes throughvalve 394. In embodiments, nozzles 370, 372, 374, 376, and 378 areelectrostatic nozzles. As such, power sources 396 and 398 are includedwithin system 300, and provide power to the electrostatic chargingsystem associates with the various individual nozzles.

The above described system 300 is, in at least one embodiment, installedin a rolling cart 400 sized to fit in most vehicles such as aircraft andother transportation vehicles as depicted in FIG. 4. As furtherdescribed, vaporous spraying nozzles, electrostatic charging of vapordroplets, and at least one air compressor are incorporated forvaporization and dispersion of decontamination fluid within vehiclessuch as ships, trains, and other large vehicles.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4, it is a perspective view of cart 400which includes nozzles 370, 372, and 374 as well as tanks 310 and 312.This embodiment of cart 400 is sized for movement down the aisle of atypical commercial aircraft. Further, this embodiment of cart 400 issized to be roughly the same dimensions as an aircraft galley cart, andcan be stored within a commercial aircraft within one of the galley cartstorage areas. In use, cart 400 can be pushed down the aisle of acommercial aircraft as maintenance personnel manually spray the seatsand open overhead bins, lavatory doors and other compartments, with, forexample nozzle 378 (shown in FIG. 3) which is denoted as being a handoperated nozzle (and shown in FIG. 5 in a storage location within cart400). After the initial localized spraying, the cart 400 can be manuallyor automatically moved down the aircraft aisle while continuing todisinfect all the remaining surfaces in the vehicle, outputting thedecontamination fluid droplets from the pre-positioned nozzles 370, 372,374, and 376. In one embodiment, during the automatic operation of cart400, an electrostatic dispersion spraying technique is performed bythese nozzles to assure adherence of the decontaminating agent to thevarious surfaces of the aircraft for maximum effectiveness.

FIG. 5 is a side view of cart 400 with a cover panel removed. In thisfigure, one placement of tanks 310 and 312, air compressors 320 and 322and nozzles 370, 372, 374, and 376 are shown as well as some of thefluid communication apparatus therebetween. In embodiments, nozzles 370,372, 374, and 376 are stationary, with respect to cart 400, while inother embodiments nozzles 370, 372, 374, and 376 are capable of movement(automatic or manual) in one or more dimensions.

An end view of cart 400, as shown in FIG. 6, provides furtherinformation regarding placement of nozzles 370, 372, 374, and 376 withincart 400 while also providing relative dimensions of cart 400. As can beeasily discerned from review of FIG. 6, cart 400 is easily adaptable toprovide decontamination capabilities for airlines. The service/food cartconfiguration of decontamination system 300 is easily available withinan airplane in case of an outbreak of a germ or virus. Decontaminationsystem 300 within cart 400 enables decontamination of an airplane andreturn of the aircraft to operation within a day. Droplets fromdecontamination system 300 are utilized to reach relatively complexgeometric surfaces including the areas that are difficult for airlinepersonnel to reach.

The above described cart 400 and system 300 may be modified to includemany features and optional equipment. For example, FIG. 7 is a blockdiagram of a decontamination system 500, configured for placement on acart, which illustrates several of these options. For simplicity,certain of the items described with respect to FIG. 1 are not shown ordescribed with respect to FIG. 7.

In the illustrated embodiment, decontamination system 500 includes atank 502 and compressor 504 which are fluidly connected to one another.Several items may be associated with tank 502 including a flowmeter 510for measuring a flow of decontamination fluid out of tank 502, apressure gauge 512 for measuring the pressure within tank 502, and afluid gauge 514 for determining an amount of decontamination fluidremaining within tank 502.

As the pressurized decontamination fluid exits tank 502 and passesthrough flowmeter 510, it is dispersing to one or more nozzles. FIG. 7illustrates the components of one nozzle system 520 that includes anelectrostatic charging system 522, the nozzle 524, and a nozzledirectional control 526. Note that one or more additional nozzle systems520 may be incorporated into decontamination system 500. In embodiments,nozzle directional control 526 may include a stepper motor or otherdevice that causes the nozzle 524 to move across a range of positions asthe decontamination agent is dispersed.

A power supply 530 may be included within system 500 providing thevoltage necessary to operate the compressor 504, the variouselectrostatic charging systems 522, the nozzle directional controllers526, as well as a cart drive system 540 and a cart controller 550. Inembodiments, power supply 530 utilizes an external power source, and inother embodiments, powers supply 530 utilizes aircraft generated power.The controller is utilized to control operation of the cart includingmovement of the cart via cart drive system 540, operation of the tank502 and compressor 504 combination based on data received at a display560. The controller 550 may be further programmed to provide signals tocart drive system 540 to control a rate of movement, and direction ofmovement of the cart. In embodiments, display 560 includes data from oneor more of the flowmeter 510, pressure gauge 512, and tank level gauge514.

For automatic movement of the cart using cart drive system 540, viacontroller 550, a sensor system 570 may be incorporated which incombination provides the function of maintaining the movement of thecart along a predefined course, for example, down the aisle of anaircraft, at a predefined rate.

The currently utilized decontamination methods include manual wipe out,use of manually operated spray distribution systems manually (e.g., abackpack type of system), or fogging of the vehicle. Manual wipe out, orspray distribution are very time consuming. A fogging method has tosaturate the entire area. In the fogging operation, the submicron fogparticles (less than 2 micron size of droplets) may stay suspendedwithin an aircraft cabin, for example, for many hours. In addition, thefog particles may penetrate areas where such moisture is undesired, forexample, wire bundles and sensitive avionics equipment, as well asleaving a residue in these areas. In contrast, cart 400 with system 300installed therein allows the manual spraying of certain areas withminimal decontamination agent use and the automatic electrostatic vaporspray to disperse decontaminants that address the remaining areas usinga single, simple to use system. The electrostatic aspect of the spraynozzles results in the dispersion of the charged decontamination agentwhich causes the particles to adhere to the various surfaces, forexample, within the aircraft thereby also reduced the amount of time theparticles are suspended in the compartment.

One unique aspect of system 300 is that it provides an easily adaptable,transportable, and effective decontamination tool for use within anaircraft interior and it is believed that decontamination times for acommercial aircraft will be reduced from days to hours with a farsuperior decontamination result. As illustrated by cart 400, system 300can be easily stored onboard an aircraft and drastically reduce aircraftdecontamination turn around time, positively impacting aircraftoperation and contributing to airline cost saving.

Outside of commercial aircraft use, system 300 can easily be adapted forplacement on other cart configurations for use in homeland security,private and military aircraft, permanent facilities (e.g., buildings),marine vessels, trucks, buses, trains and most any form oftransportation, again providing reductions in vehicle and facility downtime, cost savings, all in a stand alone system.

This written description uses examples to disclose various embodiments,which include the best mode, to enable any person skilled in the art topractice those embodiments, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope isdefined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur tothose skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be withinthe scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do notdiffer from the literal language of the claims, or if they includeequivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from theliteral languages of the claims.

1. An electrostatic spraying system for decontamination of a vehicle,said system comprising: a wheeled platform sized to fit inside thevehicle; at least one tank operable to contain one or more decontaminantagents, said at least one tank supported by said wheeled platform; aplurality of electrostatic nozzles affixed to said wheeled platform,wherein each said nozzle is positioned for distribution of thedecontaminant agents in at least one pre-determined direction; anelectrostatic charging system connected to said nozzles for applying anelectrostatic charge to the decontaminant agents as the agents aredispersed; and at least one compressor in communication with said atleast one tank for pressurizing the decontaminant agents, said at leastone compressor capable of providing a pressure sufficient to provide aconstant distribution of the decontaminant agents through saidelectrostatic nozzles.
 2. The electrostatic spraying system according toclaim 1 further comprising at least one manually operated sprayer incommunication with at least one of said tanks.
 3. The electrostaticspraying system according to claim 2 wherein said at least one manuallyoperated sprayer comprises at least one manually operated electrostaticsprayer.
 4. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1wherein at least one of said plurality of electrostatic nozzles isconfigured to cycle through a range of motion when dispersing thedecontamination agents.
 5. The electrostatic spraying system accordingto claim 1 further comprising a flowmeter in communication with at leastone of said tanks, said flowmeter providing data indicative of the rateof flow from at least one of said tanks.
 6. The electrostatic sprayingsystem according to claim 1 further comprising a gauge in communicationwith at least one of said tanks, said gauge providing data indicative ofthe remaining decontamination agents within at least one of said tanks.7. The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 furthercomprising a power supply operable to supply power to at least one ofsaid electrostatic charging system and said at least one compressor. 8.The electrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 furthercomprising a pressure regulator in the communications path between saidtank and said compressor, said pressure regulator configured to regulatethe pressure within said tank generated by said compressor.
 9. Theelectrostatic spraying system according to claim 1, said systemconfigured to utilize aircraft generated power to operate saidelectrostatic charging system and said at least one compressor.
 10. Theelectrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 wherein said wheeledplatform is sized such that it is capable of being placed within astorage area operable for storing an aircraft galley cart.
 11. Theelectrostatic spraying system according to claim 1 wherein saidelectrostatic nozzles are configured to disperse electrostaticallycharged droplets that range from about two microns in diameter to aboutforty microns in diameter.
 12. The electrostatic spraying systemaccording to claim 1 further comprising a drive system operablyconnected to said wheeled platform and configured to impart a motionupon said wheeled platform.
 13. The electrostatic spraying systemaccording to claim 12 wherein said drive system is configured to controla rate of motion of the wheeled platform.
 14. The electrostatic sprayingsystem according to claim 12 wherein said drive system is configured toutilize aircraft generated power.
 15. The electrostatic spraying systemaccording to claim 12 further comprising a sensor system attached tosaid wheeled platform and communicatively coupled to said drive system,said drive system programmed to utilize signals received from saidsensor system to guide said wheeled platform along a defined path.
 16. Amethod for dispersing a decontamination agent within an aircraft cabin,said method comprising: manually dispersing the decontamination agentfrom a tank positioned within a rolling cart to one or more definedareas within the aircraft cabin; moving the rolling cart along a definedpath within the aircraft; and dispersing the decontamination agent fromthe tank to additional areas of the cabin via a plurality ofelectrostatically charged nozzles attached to the rolling cart, thedispersing occurring, at least in part, as the rolling cart moves alongthe defined path within the aircraft.
 17. The method according to claim16 further comprising pressurizing the tank utilizing a compressorpositioned within the rolling cart.
 18. The method according to claim 16further comprising cycling at least one of the electrostatically chargednozzles through a range of motion when dispersing the decontaminationagent.
 19. The method according to claim 16 wherein moving the rollingcart along a defined path within the aircraft comprises operating adrive system connected to the rolling cart configured to impart acontrolled rate of motion upon the rolling cart.
 20. An aircraftdecontamination system comprising: a wheeled platform sized to fitwithin a galley cart storage area of an aircraft; a canister mountedwithin said wheeled platform operable to contain a decontaminant agent;a compressor mounted within said wheeled platform operable to apply apressure to the decontamination agent within said canister; a pluralityof nozzles affixed to said wheeled platform and fluidly coupled to saidcanister, wherein each said nozzle is positioned for distribution of thedecontaminant agents in at least one pre-determined direction; anelectrostatic charging system operatively attached to said nozzles forapplying an electrostatic charge to droplets of the decontaminant agentas the decontamination agent is dispersed; and a manually operatednozzle attached to said canister.
 21. The aircraft decontaminationsystem according to claim 20 wherein said manually operated nozzle isoperatively attached to said electrostatic charging system.
 22. Theaircraft decontamination system according to claim 20 further comprisinga drive system attached to said wheeled platform and configured toimpart a motion upon said wheeled platform.
 23. The aircraftdecontamination system according to claim 20 wherein said plurality ofnozzles are configured cycle through a range of motion when dispersing adecontamination agent.